Press release

Russian hold off Japan with brilliant straight sets win

Dmitry Muserskiy helped his team clinch the win with a ruthless attacking game

Kaliningrad,
Russia, June 22, 2012 – Russia claimed a vital 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-22) win over Japan in Pool A of
the 2012 FIVB World League on Friday night as they claimed three points in
front of their home fans in Kaliningrad.

Maxim
Mikhaylov led his side in victory with 13 points.

The first set started with both teams playing
well, Russia with just a one point advantage by the first TTO (8-7). They took the
lead thereafter as the players stormed ahead and claimed four points in their
favour. The tension proved too much for the Japanese team and they surrended
the set thanks to extraordinary attacks from the hosts.

The second set went the same way, staying even,
thanks to the outstanding performances of both teams before Russia went ahead at 13-10. The fight for domination went on until 22-20, Tatsuya Ueta, the Japanese coach, requested for his second
time-out before a poor serve from Japan and an ace from Muserskiy granted Russia the
second set.

Russia carried their momentum through to the
third and took the lead 12-5 before Japan asked for another time-out.
The Russian attack held Japan out of the game as they piled the pressure on. Despite a number of substitutions fro Japan, Russia
boosted their advantage, before Japan managed to fight back and level the score
17-17. The score stayed even as the Japanese team showed a determined fight,
but the hosts held their nerve to eventually win the match (25-22).